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County outlines interim Springwood management, approves targeted repairs and hay-barn lease solicitations
Summary
Kittitas County staff described interim management of Springwood ranchland, sought direction to solicit hay-barn leases, proposed prioritized irrigation and pivot repairs and said partners will be asked about removing a weathered sign visible from the freeway; staff recommended advancing two of three irrigation/repair options.
Arden (Water Resources Manager) presented a multi-part update on Springwood ranch management and said the county is in an interim management period while the property is co-owned by four entities and subject to existing grazing leases through early 2027.
Staff said the interim period is intended to provide continuity of operations and time for partners to plan uses for the land consistent with the proviso legislation that governed the transfer. Arden said the county budgeted for operations and maintenance (O&M) costs for the interim period and that the state is providing grant funding to help offset those interim O&M expenses. Arden said he will present interlocal agreements (ILAs) to the board for review.
On property use, staff reported two unutilized hay barns accessed off Goodwin Road and requested direction to solicit third-party leases for those barns with lease terms that would expire when the existing grazing lease ends in early 2027 so county holdings would become unencumbered at that time. Staff said agricultural tenants on the ranch asked that any barn lessee be responsible for exclusion of cattle from barn areas and that the county would structure leases accordingly.
Arden presented three prioritized investment options to improve irrigated acreage: (1) bring a gated-pipe field into operation (highest priority), (2) repair and return to service the large pivot visible from the freeway (second priority), and (3) undertake broader field improvements (deferred). Arden recommended proceeding with items 1 and 2 this year and deferring item 3. Commissioners agreed to move forward with priorities 1 and 2 and to plan an RFP for agricultural proposals in the fall of 2026 for grazing or other longer-term uses once current leases expire in February 2027.
Staff also raised a public-facing maintenance issue: a large, paint-peeling sign visible from the freeway. The board directed staff to consult partners and, absent significant objections, remove the sign.
